Rosin-pad for use on bows of stringed instruments



(No Model.)

H. H. HESKETT.

Y ROSIN PAD FOR USE ON BOWS 0F STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

No. 530,946. Patented Dec. 18, 1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT Grrrca.

HARRISON H. HESKETT, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

ROSlN-PAD FOR USE ON BOWS OF STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,946, dated December 18, 1894.

Application filed March 22, 1894.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRISON I-I. IIESKETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Min nesota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rosin-Pads for Use on Bows of Stringed Instruments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is in the nature of a rosin-pad for use in applying rosin to bows used with stringed instruments.

As is generally known, rosin for this purpose, has hitherto been sold, to the trade, in the form of solid cakes or blocks; and the manner of applying the same to the how has been to draw the bow hair over the surface of the rosin-block, thereby wearing away a portion of the rosin which clings or sticks to the said bow hair. Performers on these stringed instruments have long experienced great annoyance from the facts, that, unless a large amount of rosin was used, the bow-hair would soon become smooth and slippery in spots; while, on the other hand, if a sufficiently large amount of rosin was used to give the bow hair, always, a sure and strong bite on the strings, the bow-hair would, inevitably become rough and uneven, thus giving a rasping action on the strings and rendering the bow unreliable for the production of a clear and even tone. Hence, to keep the bow in good condition, it has hitherto been necessary to frequently wash, or otherwise clean the bow-hair of accumulated rosin, and then to give the same a new supply. This however, only partially removes the defects, and is, at best, only a temporary relief, as the bow-hair soon gets in as bad condition as before.

It is the oject of myinvention to provide a device for applying the rosin to the bow-hair, by the use of which the above noted annoyances will not occur. This I accomplish in my pres ent invention, by the employment of a novel rosin-device, which comprises, essentially, a bulk of powdered or finely pulverized rosin and a case containing the same, having an exposed surface, or side, of porous textile fabric. This device it seems appropriate to call a Serial No. 504,589- (No model.

rosin-pad, in contradistinction to the ordinary cake or block rosin.

In my preferred construction of the case, I

employ a block (preferably of wood) having a valley or depression out in the same, for the reception of the powdered rosin, and stretch over the same, to confine the rosin therein, the porous textile fabric.

The textile fabric which I prefer to use is a piece of muslin or linen cloth, the weave of which is sufficiently porous to readily permit the powered rosin to sift or work through to the exterior or outer surface of the same. The rosin is applied to the bow by drawing the bow-hair over the outer surface of the porous cloth, under which action, the powdered rosin will work outward through the cloth and be brought into contact with said bow-hair. Rosin applied to the bow in this manner gives the most satisfactory results. In the first place, the rosin is powdered or pulverized before coming into contact with the bow-hair; second, the rosin is sifted and delivered to the hair in small quantities; third, the rosin is, by the action of the cloth, rubbed or painted onto the hair in thin even coats, which causes it to more firmly adhere to the hair; and finally, any excessive or uneven accumulations of rosin which may tend to collect on the hair are constantly rubbed down by the wiping action of the said cloth.

As is obvious, from the above, the bow-hair is, at each application of rosin, simultaneously subjected to a smoothing and evening action, and hence, can never become raspy or rough. Further, a small amount of rosin applied in the above manner, will cause the bow-hair to bite or cling to the strings more firmly than a large amount applied from the cake rosin; again, my rosin-pad, will not wear away the heard of the bow-hair, as fast as the cake rosin.

The preferred form of my device, embracing several novel details of construction is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a plan of the entire device, showin g the pad proper, inclosed in a suitable padboX. Fig. 2 is avertical section of the same, on the line X X of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4: are views, respectively, in end elevation and plan,

showing the pad and box with the cover of said box removed. Figs. 5 and 6 are views, respectively, in end and side elevations, showing the pad proper removed from said padbox. Fig. 7 is a view in end elevation showing the pad-block. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the pad-box the coverof the same being removed; and Fig. 9 is a vertical section of the same on the line X X of said Fig. 8.

A, B, C is the rosin-pad proper, of which A is thefwooden pad-block; B, the porous textile fabric or cloth, and O is the powdered or pulverized rosin, contained in the valley or groove a of the block A, by the said cloth B.'

As shown, the block A is provided with a marginal groove glue trough a, running entirely around the four sides of the same, and the cloth B is secured in position thereto, by running glue (not shown) into said glue trough a, and tucking the lower edges of said cloth B into said groove.

D E are respectively, the body portion and the lid of the pad-box for inclosing the pad and keeping the same from becoming soiled.

Preferably, the pad is glued into the body portion D. As is evident, the cloth 13 might be secured to the pad block A in various ways, as for instance, by wrapping a cord around the pad and drawing the cloth into the groove a, of said pad-block A; also that various other alterations in the details of the construction of the pad might be made, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

WVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. A rosin-pad for use on bows of stringed instruments, comprising a body of powdered rosin and a case containing the same, having an exposed surface of porous textile fabric, through which said rosin may sift outward, and over which the bow-hair may be drawn to rosin the bow, substantially as described.

2. A rosin-pad for use on bows of stringed instruments, comprising a body of powdered rosin, a block having a valley or depression containing said rosin, and a porous clot-l1 stretched over said valley or depression, for holding the rosin therein and affording a surface over which to draw the bow, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A rosin-pad, comprising a body of powdered rosin, a woodenblock having a marginal groove, and a valley or depression containing said powdered rosin, a porous cloth stretched over said valley or depression for holding said rosin therein and affording a sur: face over which to draw the bow, said cloth being held to said block, by having its edges tucked into the marginal groove of said block and therein secured, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRISON H. HESKET'I.

WVitnesses:

JAS. F. WILLIAMSON, FRANK D. MERcHAN'r. 

